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Day care centers provide a safe and secure place for infants, toddlers and small children. Training in early childhood education and business management help you build a successful day care center in less time. Choosing the right location, hiring and training staff, and providing quality customer service to parents and guardians helps ensure continued success. Before opening a day care center, it is important to become knowledgeable of child welfare and employment laws, such as the maximum number of children you can care for, meal requirements and employee rights.

1.

Apply for a business license through the county clerk's office or small business administration office to operate a day care center. Apply for an Employer Identification Number to use on business documents and tax forms through the Internal Revenue Office. If forming a limited liability company, corporation or partnership, register the day care center with the secretary of state's office in your state.

2.

Contact the department of child welfare to determine if additional licenses are needed to legally operate a day care center. Inquire about how many children you can provide day care services for, meal requirements, nap time requirements, accident or injury reporting requirements, and if you want to care for special needs children, any additional licenses or training you will need.

3.

Lease a commercial retail space or create a space in your home. Contact a commercial real estate agent to find a suitable space that is convenient for parents to drop off and pick up children, but away from high-traffic areas. This space should include an area for outdoor play, separate kitchen area, play area and nap area. If providing services to different age groups, designating a room for infants, toddlers and older children is an option to consider. If starting a day care center in your home, contact the department of child welfare to inquire about the rules concerning at-home day care services.

Market day care services by creating fliers, brochures or a website. Include hours of operation, child care age range, location and contact information. Leave fliers at local parks, grocery stores, churches, community centers and other places parents frequent. Advertise on local television and radio stations, and list your business in online and print business directories.

Things Needed

Business plan

Tip

Create a manual for parents that includes an explanation of day care service contracts, hours of operation, meals served and items parents should bring. These items include extra diapers, baby food, formula, favorite toys and a change of clothes.

Warning

Set specific hours of operation to ensure parents drop off and pick up their children in a timely manner.

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Resources (2)

About the Author

Based in the Washington metro area, Jessica Jones has been a freelance writer since 2006, specializing in business topics. Her fiction has also been featured in publications such as "The Jamaican Observer Sunday Literary Supplement" and at websites including HackWriters. Jones earned a Master of Fine Arts in fiction writing from Lesley University.

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Jones, Jessica. "How to Open a Day Care Center." Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/open-day-care-center-4511.html. Accessed 14 September 2019.

Jones, Jessica. (n.d.). How to Open a Day Care Center. Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/open-day-care-center-4511.html

Jones, Jessica. "How to Open a Day Care Center" accessed September 14, 2019. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/open-day-care-center-4511.html

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